The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-05-06
SOMETHING ABOUT LIBERIA.
The Little Republic of Black Men ON
Africa's Coast.
Especial Correspondence1
NEW YORK. Anril q

Africa's Coast.
special Correspondence
NEW YORK, April 20.
The little republic of Liberia, on the west
coast of Africa, is now just forty years old
Though the beginning of the country as a
civilized colony, under the efforts of Henry
Clay, dates back seventy one years ago, it did
not assume its entire independence until 1947.
The presence now in this city of Mrs. NJ. H.
G. BarboZa, daughter of H. FL. Garnet, the
late United States minister to that country,
has enabled us to collect a few interesting
facts concerning it.
Liberia represents a tract of territory about
500 miles in length along the coast and which,
generally speaking, is about fifty miles in
width. 1t has pleasantly diversified surface,
is well watered and furnishes the fruits and
products of the tropical zone Agriculture is
the dominating interest, and coffee sugar.
cotton, rice and ginger are among the staple
crops produced. Milk is very scarce-the
milk of cows-and retails at twelve cents or
more quart. Only very wealthy man can
afford to keep a COW, SO that the owner Of
COW there is as conspicuous for his love of
luxury and ability to command it as the
owner of yacht is in England Am ''ica.
The milk of the common or average people is
drawn from goats.
The people seem to be divided into two
classes-tlose who are civilized and possess
citizenship and the ignorant tribes who are
wholly native. Only the former class, and
not all of that belongs to the body polite, as
it requires, among other things, the possession
of a certain amount of real estate to he able
to vote. The population (civilizeD numbers
about 1856, 900. Persons from the ignorant
al, - oII
state constituency through influences of elu-
cation; hut unless they are so transferred
they do not count iii the census. 1t is under
stood That the very few whites who live in
Liberia there simply for the temporary
purpose of trade. They cannot take part in
Tie government or gain title to land.
The ln'n>es and public buildings of Liberia
are built either of brick Or wood, and are
furnished in the way houses of that sort gener-
ally are Stoves. however, are not used, but
fireplaces are, with wood for fuel Among
the forest woods of most Importance are
ebony, rosewood and mahogany There is
also a kind of redwood. A tree, the timber
of which is called birthstone wood, admits Of
a very high yellow polish. The wismore is
also a remarkable tree, and there are not
wanting species Of oak and pine. Dyewoods
In the matter of mineral wealth, Liberia
furnishes marble, mica and iron. The iron is
of very superior quality.
Mrs Barboza says that the people are
enabled to make excellent roads out of a very
curious material-the mounds of the Termite
ants, whose cells in the interior of these
mimic mountains are most wonderful con-
struction. The ants 60 very far down in the
r.tt nd hi.ir md fo, tbas.
habitation, which they work into something
like rough bits of coral. This material-for
the mounds are very numerous-can be OBJ
tanned to any extent, and is gathered and
spread over the town streets and the roads
leading therefrom. 1t makes surface equally
as good as macadam, but has the appear
ance of concrete. When the ants hills are
disturbed they abandon them.
In spite of the good roads referred to
horses are not commonly used, particularly
in the towns and OH the coast Oxen do duty
for draft, and people who travel are carried
i'll palankeens. The government has a good
system of schools, and churches abound. The
republic is directly modelled after ours in its
executive, legislative and Judicial features
The president holds his office for two years, as
the representatives do theirs, while the sena-
tors hold for four years. The president now
in office is H. r. W. johnson. He is i'm his
second term, and is now running third time
for the presidency, which Is not violation
of either the written or unwritten laws there,
and which shows his popularity. The two
parties which carry OH politics i'll Liberia are
the Wing and the Republican. The presi-
dent, who is likely to be reelected once more,
represents the Wing party. The election day
occurs early in May.
Monrovia, the headquarters of the govern
ment, and named after one of our presidents.
contains only about 1000 people. A much
larger town is Grand Bassa Liberia gets
along without banks, though it must be that
prominent mercantile firms do this style of
business in addition to their own 1t also
thrives without our omnipresent saloon.
There are lawyers there, however
Some of the names of the natives are curl
Gus. Barfofa means "leader of his people,
Farquakwe means "a chief" and Bahkur "a
great talker." The man who bears this name,
it is no surprise to hear, is LAWYER. The
seasons in Liberia are not so much different
from those on this continent on the same iso-
thermal line. They are called the dry and
the wet seasons The dry season lasts from
November until the third week in March,
while tue distinct rainy season includes July
and August There are however early spring
and summer rains. The government paper
currency, which is black and white in color,
is manufactured in England
Mrs. Rarboza, who has given us these facts,
is the principal of the Garnet Memorial school
in BreWersville, Liberia, which is an academy
for young ladies, partially endowed by the
government. It has now seventy eight pupils.
As an indication that the cost Of living cam
not be great in this country. we observe that
$3.50 per annum, in greenbacks or specie, win
board pupil for one year, in this school.
Nor can education be expensive, when $25,
the price of a scholarship. pays for eighteen
terms, or six years, tuition.
JOEL BENTON.